Glamour, Bling & 'Cha-Ching'

My friend Garth Raleigh at Gay Archipelago sent me this pressrelease for Miss Wigstock, 2013

"Did you know that January is Drag History Month? This month-long celebration salutes the richness of drag culture and pays tribute to the courageous queens & kings who have fought for equality while inspiring, educating & entertaining us all.

As part of this celebration, the Gay Archipelago pays homage to these pioneering members of our Community with the 5th ‘Miss WigStock’ Show & Contest in Second Life to be held Sunday, January 27, 2013 at 12pm (noon) slt.

We're inviting ALL members of the LGBT Community who are interested in competing for the title, the Crown and the cash prize of $L15,000 to choose a song to perform and gather their best Drag outfit (complete with wig of choice). No worries - the great Oliver Elton will be helping contestants with their sets and their steps. There'll also be a prize of $L5,000 to the 1st runner-up and a purse (pink fur-lined) of $L2,500 to the 2nd runner up - All chosen by a panel of 3 independent judges looking for appearance, performance and originality.

Contact contestant coordinator - Rico (ricogenu.resident) in SL before the cutoff date of January 16th, 2013, to get your name in the hat.

Audience members........prepare for the wildest, most fun show and contest to be presented on the main stage at Theatre on the Hill. Come root for your favorite Diva as he/she struts the stage and showers you with the attentions that only a true Diva can. There'll be surprise special guest-appearances, over-the-top musical performances / sets and or course.........smiles and laughter for all!

***

YOU can help get the word out about this unique and FUN upcoming celebration within the SL LGBT Community. Here's a texture poster for you.

There is also a Miss Wigstock Info-giver kiosk available for your sim, club or venue that will distribute a highly-entertaining guide to 'how to be a Diva in the Wigstock Contest' at no cost when touched. Please contact either Othon Weiland, publicity, or myself to get yours today!

With champaign dreams and rhinestone stilettos,

Garth Raleigh
Lead, Gay Archipelago"

Cuddly Ally

"And I am proud of it!"

(via +Joe Jervis at J.M.G.)

Straight ally extraordinaire Ben Cohen has posted the above picture on his Facebook page with the same caption. Huggable and lovable guy, isn't he?

Swedish Embassy in SecondLife Closes

The following announcement was posted today on the Second House of Sweden blog

"By the start of 2013 the Second House of Sweden project has officially been closed down.

The project was by all standards a success. We managed to make a definite mark in the virtual world of Second Life as well as creating a lot of publicity in the first [life]. This blog shows some of the events that took place, and perhaps more importantly tells the story of why a government agency such as the Swedish Institute decided to embark on the journey of creating the world’s first virtual embassy.

What you can’t read about in this blog, but could only experience, was all the interesting meetings that took place between different individuals (virtual or not) from all over the world. From the opening ceremony hosted by Sweden’s foreign minister Carl Bildt, and the Virtu-Real project which enabled meetings between visitors of the real world House of Sweden and it’s virtual “twin” Second House of Sweden – to everyone that just stopped by to see what the fuzz was about.

Although it is always a bit sad to leave a dear friend, at the Swedish Institute we constantly look for new ways of communicating our belief in openness and innovation, and no project (should) last forever. You could say that Curators of Sweden was in 2012 what Second House of Sweden was in 2007. What 2013 holds in store remains to be seen.

So long, and thanks for all the fish!"

---

I for one, have always been a staunch supporter of the Swedish Embassy in SecondLife since the start. It was my reading about the inauguration of the Embassy that brought me to SecondLife in 2007. 

The project has been under attack from a handful of Swedish SecondLife bloggers and "eternally disgruntled taxpayers" the last few years. With the exception of my friend Gittrika Mint, whom I didn't agree with in this matter, I cannot stand the rest of them.

I believe that this decision by the Swedish Institute is regretful and unnecessary. The sims could have been brought to life again if an earnest and concerted effort had been made.

Thanks for all the good times and the fond memories, Swedish Embassy in SecondLife! I am sad to see it go and I will miss it!

Noah Has Something To Tell Us

(via +Joe Jervis at J.M.G.)

Noah St.John, 15 y.o., has something to tell us about his family and their lives together. And what a storyteller he is.

Keep your biggest smiles and handkerchiefs handy.

Support Ticket #01587329 V

Illustration from Sidel.com

Theresa Linden of the technical support team at Linden Lab is diligently working on trying to help me with my problems. When I woke up this morning I had the following message from her in my mailbox.

"A comment has been added to your Case..

Case: 01587329
Avatar: Bock McMillan
Type: Other Inworld Issues
Status: Information Requested

Hello Bock,

You are too funny! Your internet speed is pretty awesome, so we can rule that out, lol! I was wanting to try one more thing with your avatar if you didn't mind. Just one more test to rule out inworld contribution to these issues. I again appreciate your patience. Once you comply, you will receive an email advising you that the action is taking place so that you don't login when we are testing, then another email letting you know when we are done. When you're logged out and ready to go, respond to this case and we will get started. If you do not see that email from me, don't worry and go ahead and use your account. If I don't get to it tonight, I will return Thursday since I am off Tuesday and Wednesday, and conduct the test then.

Thanks again!

Theresa Linden


To reply to this case, either Reply to this email, or visit : https://secondlife.com/my/support/?caseID=01587329

(To view the Case online, you will need to log into Secondlife.com with this Avatar: Bock McMillan)"

---

As I was only half-awake my response was short and sweet.

"Hi again Theresa,

I don´t mind at all, please go ahead and test at your convenience!

You cannot imagine how grateful I am for you trying to help me out.
Bock McMillan"

As there was no new email from Theresa waiting when I got home, I should think she did not get my answer before she went off on her short but well-earned days off (or other activity).

Following Doctor´s Orders

Every time I complain to my sweet Hungarian doctor that I need to sleep too much, he tells me in almost perfect Swedish, "If you need to sleep, then sleep!" 

So that is what I have done after work today and will keep on doing until the morning!

I hope to see you all in the morning, meanwhile please enjoy this picture of New Zealand-born Australian actor Russell Crowe relaxing in the bathtub. It´s got absolutely nothing to do with my first life or my SecondLife but as a blogger I am using my powers to stuff you with things I like, so do not bitch about it.

(I am sorry but  do not know whom to credit for the picture, but I will be happy to do so when I receive information in that matter.)

Support Ticket #01587329 IV

Illustration from Omnitech Support

Between 5:35-6:07 AM this morning (CET) I received three messages from Linden Lab. The first one informing me that they were going to disable my account while running their tests with Bock, the second one  informing me that my account was restored to me and the third one is the one below..

"A comment has been added to your Case..

Case: 01587329
Avatar: Bock McMillan
Type: Other Inworld Issues
Status: Information Requested

Hello Bock,

Thank you for allowing me access to this avatar inworld. I was able to run tests on everything you reported wrong in the attached file. The good news is I was not able to duplicate any of the issues reported, which means nothing is wrong with your avatar!

-Repetition of my chat in local: Negative (tried in different regions including home) -Repetition of my chat in Instant Message: Negative (IM test to two different Lindens online) -Repetition of payments: Negative (sent a payment to a Linden and received it back, once each time) -Involuntary movement: Negative (dancing in an SL club)

This is good to know, but now we need to know what is causing this to happen on your end. If you don't mind, I would like to ask for some more info from you. Can you please go to www.speedtest.net, and please begin at test. What I would like to know then is what your Upload and Download speed reports. If you can please reply with that info when you have it, that will be great!

Thanks for your time,

Theresa Linden

To reply to this case, either Reply to this email, or visit : https://secondlife.com/my/support/?caseID=01587329

(To view the Case online, you will need to log into Secondlife.com with this Avatar: Bock McMillan)"

---

As soon as I had read the emails I immediately ran the speed test and sent the following response.

"Hello Theresa,

I hope you were gentle with Bock, he is not used to being handled by women. Nonetheless I was happy to give you access to Bock so that we can hopefully get to what causes these problems when I run him myself.

I have run the test at Speedtest.net with the following result 

Download 88. 57 Mb/s 

Upload 9.68 Mb/s 

Ping 9 ms

Thank you so much for your assistance in this matter,

Bock McMillan"